Signal



T. BLHARRIS.

SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1919.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Queuing UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. HARRIS, OF STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN SIGNAL COME'AN Y, A CORPORATION OF NORTH GAROLIN A.

SIGNAL.

.with fire alarm boxes, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character whereby a signal, either audible or visible, or both, is caused to be operated when an effort is made to gain access within the fire alarm box.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character wherein the same is caused to operate by the closing of an electric cirlying the keyhole of the lock for controlling the door of the box.-

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a normally open circuit closer and wherein the movable member is caused to close a circuit before access can be had within the box and which member also operates to close a circuit for the signal in the event said movable member is tampered with.

An additional object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved device of this general character comprising an electrically operated signal member wherein the circuit is normally open, together with means for closing the circuit in the event that the fire alarm box should be unduly vibrated and as may be occasioned by a person endeavoringto obtain unlawful access within the box as for the purpose of sending in a false alarm. g

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement'of the several parts of my improved signal whereby certain important Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Application filed May 10, 1919. Serial No. 296,230.

advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevationillustrating a fire alarm box and signal coacting therewith.

' Fig. 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of the structure as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly diagrammatic, illustrating my improved signal as herein included.

Fig. l is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in side elevation, of one of the circuit closers included in my improved signal, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating a second circuit closer comprised in my invention as herein set forth.

7 As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, P denotes a post or other support to which is attached in a conventional manner a fire alarm box 13 and which box includes the door D whereby access may be had within the box to send in an alarm.

The door D is normally maintained in closed position by a lock L of any desired type and for which reason the door D is provided with a key opening 1. The opening 1 isnormally closed by the leaf or shutter 2 carried by and overlying the outer face of the door D.

Suitably secured to the post P or other support and at a desired distance above the box B is a housing H divided into two compartments A and A. Arranged within the compartment A is a source E of electrical energy and preferably one or more dry batteries, and positioned within the second compartment A is an audible signal S herein disclosed as a bell of a conventional type.

The signal or bell S is interposed in an electrical conductor a leading from the source E and electrically connected to a movable contact member M herein disclosed as an elongated arm mounted for swinging whereby the member movementrabout a substantially horizontally disposed axis.

The upper end portion of the member M is'suitably affixed as at 3, to the inner end portion of a stub shaft 4 slidably disposed through the door D at a desired point above the keyhole 1. The leaf or shutter 2 has its upper end portion fixed to the outer extremity of the stub shaft 4', whereby said shaft 4: serves as a pivot for said leaf or shutter 2 and also causes the leaf or shutter 2 and the member M to move in unison'and in the same direction. The leaf or shutter 2 and the member M are also substantially in parallelism. V V

Suitably secured to the inner face of the door D is an insulating strip orv plate ,5,

herein disclosed as arcuate in form, and the opposite end portions of saidstrip-are provided with the outwardly directed lugs 6 and 7. The member M is of a length to have its free end portion extend between the lugs 6 and 7, and the lu Gserves as a stop M when the leaf or shutter 2 is in closed position relative to the keyhole 1, can only be swung in one direction or toward the lug 7. The lug? constitutes a contact in electrical connection with the source E through the medium of the conductor b so that when the member M is in contact with the member 7 the circuit will be closed through the conductors a and b and the signal S caused to operate.

The leaf or shutter 2 normally overlies the keyhole 1 and when it is desired to insert a key through said hole 1 in order to open the door D, it is necessary to swing the leaf or shutter 2 upwardly and which movement of the leaf or shutter 2 results in the member M engaging the member 7. With the cir- .cuit closed and the signals operating, notice is given that an alarm is being turned in from the box, with the result that an opportunity is given for the person turning in the alarm being identified so that in the event a false or unlawful alarm is being sounded, opportunity is afforded to capture the culrit. i i

I also find it of advantage. to operate in unisonwithythe signal or hell S a visualor illuminating signal V herein disclosed as a conventional type of incandescent lamp connected in parallelism by the conductors 0 with the conductors a and b.

'As' is particularly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,, the conductors a and 6 between the box B and housing H are disposed through an incasing'conduit 8, preferably metallic piping, and the conductors c are disposed througha tubular bracket 9 in communication with and supported by said conduit 8.

It is also preferred that the lamp'rV be surrounded by a suitable guard G, herein .disclosed as formed from a reticulated fabric. I

v tors be exposed, asindic ated at 14 in Fig.6,

The visual or illuminating signal V is of particular advantage after nightfall as the the particular box at which the signal S is operating.

Secured to the outer face of the strip or plate 5 is an elongated contact member 10 positioned inwardly of the free end portion ofthecontact member M. The member M is normally maintained out of engagement with the contact member 10 by the expansiso ble member 11 interposed between the member M and the door D. The expansible member 11 is herein disclosed as a coil spring encircling the stub shaft 4. Should a person endeavor to pry off the leaf or shutter 2, as 8.5 by inserting a suitable leverage implement beneath said leaf or shutter 2, the stub shaft elwill move outwardly resulting in the member M engaging. the contact member 10 resulting in the operation of the signals Sand. V and which operation is assured through i the conductor (Z leading from the contact member 10 and electrically connectecLwith the conductor cl. By this arrangement, the contact members 7' and 10 are arranged in series. 7

It is preferred that the several conductors a, b, c and d be provided with a conventional insulating covering, indicated at 12 in Fig. 5, in order to prevent short circuiting.

It is also preferred that adjacent portions of the conductors a and 7) within the box B be substantially horizontally disposed and that parts of said portions ofthese conducso that a circuit throughthe conductors a and b may be closed thereat. 15 denotes an elongated arm pivotally connected as at 16 with a wall of the box B and above the horizontal portions of the conductors a and I). Said arm 15 is provided :witha cross head 17 of conductive material which is adapted to engage the exposed portions of the conductors a and b to close a circuit. The pivotal connection 16 of the arm 15 is frictional so that the cross head 17 is normally maintained in open position. In the event of the box B being unduly vibrated, as by a person en'deavoring to gain access within the box'by imposing blows thereon, the arm 15 will drop and the cross head 17 operate to close a circuit to operate the signals S and V;

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a signal constructedin accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of somejchange and -modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A circuit closer including a movable contact, an operating member for said movable contact, said member comprising a keyhole guard and spaced members coacting with the movable contact for limiting the movement thereof, one of said members constituting a second contact of the closer.

2. A circuit closer comprising two stationary contacts, a movable contact, said movable contact having movement in two different paths, said movable contact coacting with one of the stationary contacts in each of its paths of travel, and a keyhole guard operatively engaged with the movable contact and constituting an operating member for moving said movable contact in either of its two different paths.

3. A circult closer comprising a support provided with a keyhole slot, a stub shaft disposed through said support and having both rocking and endwise movement, a keyhole guard carried by the stub shaft and constituting operating means for the shaft, an elongated member carried by the shaft and constituting a movable contact, and two stationary contacts, said member engaging one of the contacts upon rotary movement of the shaft and engaging the second contact upon endwise movement of the shaft.

4. A circuit closer comprising a support provided with a keyhole slot, a stub shaft disposed through said support and having both rocking and endwise movement, a keyhole guard carried by the stub shaft and constituting operating means for the shaft, an elongated member carried by the shaft and constituting a movable contact, and two stationary contacts, said member engaging one of the contacts upon rotary movement of the shaft and engaging the second contact upon endwise movement of the shaft, and means for constantly urging the shaft endwise in one direction to maintain the elongated member normally out of engagement with the contact coacting therewith upon endwise movement of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

- THOMAS l3. HARRIS.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. SooTT,

W. E. Lawson. 

